Burlington Food Bank says 38% of local food bank users have jobs

Burlington Food Bank says 38% of the people who use food banks in Burlington are employed. Across Ontario, it puts the share at 15%. In other words, a paycheque is no guarantee of a full fridge for many families who turn to food help in the city.

A second local food bank wants help too. The Compassion Society of Halton, a community food bank and support hub that also serves Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills, Acton and Georgetown, is asking the community for canned goods to restock its food shelves.

Canned food is on Burlington Food Bank's wish list as well. Its ten most-needed items are hot and cold cereal, large soup, juice, granola bars, peanut butter, canned fruit, canned vegetables, canned meat, pasta sauce and personal hygiene products. For its Thanksgiving drive, St. John's church said the food bank had shared a particular need for hygiene products.

Donations can go straight to Burlington Food Bank at 1A – 1254 Plains Road East. It is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Thursday evenings from 5 to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

Grocery shoppers can give on the way out. At Fortinos on Plains, you can buy a $10 donation bag or leave your own items in the bin.

Bigger campaigns help as well. This year's Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Week, when the coffee chain's local stores sell cookies to raise money for a local charity, brought in $163,861 for Burlington Food Bank.

Two holiday events later this month will also collect for the food bank. People heading to the Aldershot Village Tree Lighting on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 355 Plains Road East are asked to bring a non-perishable food item; the tree is lit at 6 p.m. The next day, the Burlington Legion Ladies' Auxiliary Holiday Market will take donations for the food bank.

The Compassion Society is also collecting for its Holiday Gift Program. It says Walmart, President's Choice and Dollarama gift cards will do the most good if they arrive by Friday, Dec. 4.